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Friday, June 27, 2014

Ashley Bessler from Wild Rose on how a childhood of bad-tasting supplements led to her own herbal apothecary line. Images provided by Wild Rose

Hello Ashley! Can you tell us a bit about the history of Wild Rose?I
learned the value of a DIY ethic at a young age. I was raised by a
single mother of three and resourcefulness was key in our household. My
mom gets credit for introducing me to herbalism. Teas, tinctures and
bad-tasting supplements were always on hand, and colorful herb books
filled our shelves. This, combined with my immersion in the local punk
scene, made me crave the skills necessary to be totally self-reliant.
Despite doing well in school, I skipped college and invested in a small
library of books on everything from aromatherapy to homesteading.

At first, I didn’t intend to sell my creations. I made them as an
alternative to store-bought synthetic products for myself, family and
close friends. It wasn’t long before I was selling my herbal salves to
the local health food store, funding my new-found hobby. I maintained a
low-key presence at farmer's markets and craft fairs for the next four
years, even while living off the grid in Northern California. When I
found myself back in “the city,” I decided to take my most treasured
recipes and reincarnate my products under the name Wild Rose.

Can you tell us more about the ingredients you use?Wild
Rose is my response to an economy where the ecological, political, and
social costs of manufacturing are veiled. I spend much of my time
tracking down raw materials, packaging, and even office supplies to
their source. This minimizes or eliminates the social, environmental,
and ethical footprint of my products by choosing sources that are
non-GMO, sustainably harvested, organic, or fair trade. I grow many of
the fresh botanicals needed for my recipes just outside my workshop.

Are there any seasonal ingredients you're excited to experiment with as we go into the summer season?Right
now our rose bushes are incredibly productive. We collect fresh blooms
daily, leaving plenty for the bees and butterflies as well. The petals
are dried and powdered for use in our Attunement Facial Mask
and Bloom Muscle Rub. Calendula is another flower we grow heavily on
the farm. These I tincture fresh for our handmade calendula extract, a
vital ingredient for our face washes and Ink Spray Tattoo Aftercare.* Calendula is also dried for use in our
Wild Man Clean Shave Soap and Garden Carrot Hand Cream.* Summer is also time for collecting fresh yarrow,
rosemary, cayenne peppers, lavender and sage. Every year, we grow more
of our own botanicals right on the land.

Tell us about your studio setup.We're
incredibly lucky to operate out of a 400-square-foot workshop on our
two-acre homestead in the heart of Southern Oregon's Rogue Valley. Most
days I float between making products, computer work, and tending to the
garden. I'm fortunate to have help from my mother and mother-in-law. The
mom team helps me with packing orders, answering emails, and bulk
bottling/labeling.

When I get the chance to make a new
product, I generally look through my "personal stash" for inspiration.
All of my products started as a custom recipe for myself or a loved one.
I then do an immense amount of research to get the very best
ingredients available. The specific formulation of a product could be
called intuitive. I tend to know exactly how many drops or milliliters
of an ingredient will give me the result I want.

Tell us about working in Oregon. What brought you there and why do you stay?Southern
Oregon’s Rogue Valley is a hotspot for alternative entrepreneurs. I
gain my inspiration from those who have come before me—the formidable,
independent herbal and beauty companies who started right here. Of
course, I believe the main reason this area is so full of successful,
alternative businesses is due to our beautiful surroundings. Southern
Oregon, part of the Klamath-Siskiyou Region, is known as a climate
“melting pot” as we see the confluence of four different bioregions:
North Pacific Coast, Cascades, Great Basin and California’s Central
Valley. The people here are varied, but we all hold the same basic
values: a focus on sustainability, a love of nature, and a desire to
protect this critical bioregion for future generations.

What are some of your favorite Oregon spots? Can you divulge any secret swimming holes you love?Grants
Pass is a pretty small town (a population of about 33,000) and the
largest in the county! You’ll be hard pressed to find a restaurant open
past 9pm. And if you’re looking to shop downtown on a Sunday or
Monday—forget it! Grants Pass runs on its own schedule; even the cops
hold banker’s hours. Most locals find entertainment outdoors, especially
on the Rogue River, which runs right through downtown Grants Pass.

This
area holds the largest concentration of intact watersheds in the
Pacific Northwest, which means we also hold the largest concentrations
of secret swimming holes! I’ve lived in the region for seven years, and I
feel like I’ve only begun to explore the endless rivers, streams, and
lakes. One of my favorites is on the Illinois River about six miles up
Illinois River Road out of Selma. It’s a steep hike down the canyon, but
a gentle and deep swimming hole awaits with plenty of jumping rocks.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

We had a blast at The Battle of the Beards! Congratulations to our grand champion, Damion, and his awesome mustache (and lederhosen!). We're incredibly grateful for The Rogue Valley Messenger for organizing such an awesome event, as well as The Rocky Tonk for hosting, the bands for playing and the judges, competitors and spectators for bringing the fun! This event helped raised funds for The Bee Girl Foundation - a pollinator education program based in the Rogue Valley.

We had our full Wild Man line available at our booth and loved meeting so many new friends. Plus, each competitor went home with some Wild Man goodies! Check out Uniquely Rogue's recap of the event below:

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Wild Rose is proud to sponsor Southern Oregon's First Annual Battle of the Beards! Join us this Saturday, June 8th between 12 and 8 at the Rocky Tonk Saloon in Medford. We'll be joining in the fun with plenty of prizes for contestants plus we'll have our full Wild Man line available for purchase.

This event is presented by The Rogue Valley Messenger and benefits The Bee Girl Foundation - an important pollinator education program!